George P. Fernald House

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/george-p--fernald-house

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was George P. Fernald House built?Circa 1895
2. What is the location?12 Rock Hill Street, Medford, Massachusetts
3. What is the architectural style?Colonial Revival, with Federal-style elements
4. Why does the house have a big two‑story portico?The portico is a classical Ionic design that makes the entrance look grand and shows the house’s connection to old American styles.
5. Who helped George P. Fernald design the house?His brother Albert, also an architect, may have worked with him on the design.

Colonial Revival: An architectural movement that sought to revive and reinterpret designs from the colonial period of the United States.
Federal Style: An American architectural style from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, characterized by symmetry, classical motifs, and refined detailing.
Ionic Pedimented Portico: A classical architectural feature consisting of a porch with Ionic columns supporting a triangular pediment, often framing an entrance.
Architectural Proponent: An individual who actively supports and promotes a particular architectural style or movement.